Our Stop - Laura Jane Williams Page 0,70

didn’t have WhatsApp. What an inconsequential thing to be bothered about, and true all the same, she thought. Before she could type anything else he replied, I’m doing it. I am undertaking my homework.

??? she typed back.

The movie! The Nora Ephron back catalogue! That’s a very important fact about me: I follow instruction very well. He followed it with a photo of a beer held up to a TV that was, indeed, playing her favourite film. There was a familiarity to sending a photo, an intimacy. Nadia figured that having sex was about as intimate as it got, but she didn’t actually believe that. Sex was one thing, but this guy was making himself emotionally available to her. She could see a few framed photographs at the side of the TV, and using two fingers to zoom in assumed them to be of his mum and dad, and maybe a dog.

Nadia smiled to herself and sent back: I rather gathered that last night, Eddie. She was being sexually provocative to hold him at emotional arm’s length, a tried-and-tested tactic she’d used many times before.

Eddie sent back the purple devil emoji and then, frustratingly refusing to be led down the provocative path typed: This is actually really well written. Like, you think the characters are these stock characters performing to type, but just when you think the rich bookstore guy doesn’t have a heart, you realize how kind he is in spite of his family. And you think she’s all romantic and hopeful and then she says something spikey and cutting but true. Everyone surprises me, in every scene.

Nadia wrote back: Firstly, don’t be that guy.

It was Eddie’s turn to type back a string of question marks.

The guy who is surprised by a woman’s recommendation and uses the word ‘actually’ as if it is remarkable that a female recommendation of a female-led movie would be right.

Noted, Eddie typed back. I only meant I didn’t think I’d be into a rom-com, but I accept your point.

It’s so much more than a rom-com! Nadia wrote back.

THAT IS WHAT I AM SAYING WITH CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT!!!!! Eddie replied. WE ARE SAYING THE SAME THING!!!!

Okay!!!!!!!! said Nadia in reply.

Jesus!!!

Nadia sat up straight from her vegetative state on the sofa. Eddie was … smart. And saying insightful things, and also not letting her be an asshole to him. Like, he was sticking up for himself whilst also telling her that he heard her. In spite of herself, Nadia was impressed.

She changed tactic. I’m glad you’re enjoying it.

I am, he said. She reminds me of you.

Who does?

Kathleen.

Meg Ryan reminds you of me?!

Yes, Eddie typed back. Maybe it’s the hair.

Maybe, Nadia replied, trying on the character of Kathleen for size. She liked the comparison.

Or maybe it’s the defensive attitude masking deep romanticism, he typed, adding in a winky emoji.

Touché, said Nadia. And then, in spite of herself, because she had Emma’s voice ringing in her head and he was being sweet and she didn’t, actually, have anything to lose: So, this weekend, right?

Are you asking me out? said Eddie, ignoring the fact he’d suggested to her this morning that his whole weekend was free. She deserved that. She deserved being made to put herself out there a little when she was riding him so hard. She admired that – that he was making her declare her interest as clearly as he had declared his. It felt full of self-respect.

I am, she said. Sunday. Let’s do something nice on Sunday. She had a twinge in her heart that betrayed her excitement. Enjoy the movie! x

32

Daniel

‘Mate,’ Daniel said, swilling the last dregs of his beer at the bottom of the glass. ‘I don’t have words for the extent to which I am not interested in tonight. Really and truly – I’m pretty sure you don’t need me.’

Lorenzo raised his eyebrows and shook his head. ‘I need you, dude.’ He finished his drink and signalled to the barman for two more.

‘No,’ Daniel said, firmly. ‘I’ve got to pace myself.’ He waved Lorenzo’s hand away and held up one finger to the barman. The barman nodded, message received.

‘It’s not as if I’m asking you to set your hair on fire and put it out with the back of a shovel just for a laugh. This is a group of hot girls! You could even get laid if you wanted!’

‘But that’s the point, isn’t it?’ said Daniel. ‘I don’t want to.’

Lorenzo, as predicted, hadn’t been hugely sympathetic about Daniel’s failed date and lost romance